Muiznieks Becomes Party to Trial of HDP MPs

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Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks has become a party to the trial which has been taken to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) by Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MPs and co-chairs.

In the dictum he presented to the ECtHR, Muiznieks said that legal action has been taken against a large number of HDP MPs over terror related crimes due to “not exercising their right to freedom of expression in line with law”.

The commissioner also stated that the laws are arbitrarily enforced” by prosecutors and judges.

Muiznieks also noted that the speeches by 12 MPs not inciting to violence have also been evaluated within this scope.

“They cannot represent their voters”

Stressing that the imprisoned MPs cannot carry out their parliamentary duties, therefore cannot represent their voters, the human rights commissioner stated that decisions of detentions and continuation of detentions are mostly based on evidence that are not sufficient and concrete.

“Voices of the dissidents are being silenced”

Muiznieks claimed that inspecting detention conditions has been “significantly restricted” due to the State of Emergency that was declared in the wake of July 15 coup attempt and extended for five times.

Touching on the situation of academics who have criticized government’s policies of Eastern and Southeastern regions, journalists, human rights defenders and the mayors who were forced to resign, Muiznikes said that laws and jurisdiction are being used to “silence the dissidents’ voices”.

Government of Turkey has to present its defense concerning the trial to the ECtHR until November 24, 2017. (PT/TK)